Latif, Javed express support for Mohammad Sami – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rashid-Latif-c84084 and former bowling coach Aqib Javed, after he was overlooked by the national selection committee for Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad, despite his recent remarkable
performances in domestic cricket.
“Sami’s in the form of his life,” Latif insisted. “He’s by far the best genuine fast-bowler in Pakistan at the moment.”
The 31-year-old pacer, who made his debut in 2001, played his last ODI against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 at the Kensington Oval in
Bridgetown (where he took 2-25).
The right-hand bowler is currently playing in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 Premier League for Duronto Rajshahi, where he is one of the top wicket-takers, with 17 scalps to his name. A particularly impressive outing against the Dhaka Gladiators on February 27 2012 saw
him taking 5 wickets at the expense of 6 runs in 3.2 overs.
In addition to the BPL, Sami has been prominent in the domestic circuit as well, with 39 scalps and 579 runs in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy (a domestic first-class tournament), and 17 wickets in two matches in the Pentangular Cup.
“When a player is performing well, he should be utilised. If Sami doesn’t qualify for selection even after all these performances then I don’t know when he’ll get a chance,” Latif said.
The national squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, which is scheduled to begin on March 11 in Bangladesh, includes three pacers - http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aizaz-Cheema-c961 – with the latter two having failed to achieve anything significant in the national team’s
last series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013.
Former fast bowler and outgoing bowling coach, Aqib Javed, is convinced that while Sami is not suited to Test matches owing to his inability to bowl longer spells, he can prove a useful addition to the squad for the limited-overs format of the game.
“I’ve followed his performances recently and he can be a good addition to the T20 squad,” said Javed. “He’s an attacking bowler, excellent fielder and a handy batsman.”
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